New York Rangers vs. Boston Bruins Game Preview

TD Garden is the site for an Original Six showdown as the Boston Bruins welcome the visiting New York Rangers. MSG Plus 2 will showcase the matchup, which gets going at 5 p.m. ET on Saturday, December 16.

New York Rangers vs. Boston Bruins Odds

New York is 17-15 straight up (SU) and has lost 1.4 units for moneyline bettors this year. Through 32 regular season outings, 18 of its games have gone over the total, while 11 have gone under and just two have pushed. As the road team in 2017-18, the Broadway Blueshirts are 4-7 SU.

New York has converted on 20.4 percent of its power play chances this year, a figure that’s good enough for 10th-best in the NHL. Additionally, it has the eighth-best penalty kill in the league, and it’s successfully killed off 83.0 percent of all penalties.

For the team as a whole, the Broadway Blueshirts have been penalized just 3.5 times per game overall during the 2017-18 season, and 2.7 per game over its last ten outings. The team has had to stave off opponent power plays just 5.4 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.

Averaging 27.7 saves per game with a .917 save percentage, Henrik Lundqvist (15-12-2) has been the primary option in goal for New York this season. Lundqvist played last night, however, so New York may opt to rest him and instead roll with Ondrej Pavelec (2-6-1 record, .914 save percentage, 3.04 goals against average).

The visiting Rangers have relied on Mats Zuccarello and Pavel Buchnevich this season. Zuccarello (26 points) is up to seven goals and 19 assists, and has recorded multiple points six times. Buchnevich has 11 goals and 12 assists to his creditand has notched a point in 17 games.

Boston is 15-14 straight up (SU) and has lost 2.3 units for moneyline bettors this year. Through 29 regular season contests, 15 of its games have gone under the total, while 14 have gone over and none have pushed. This season, the teams 9-7 SU as the home team.

The Bruins have converted on 20.2 percent of their power play chances this year, a mark that’s good enough for 10th-best in the league. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked fourth overall, and it’s successfully killed off 84.6 percent of all penalties.

Boston players have been penalized 4.2 times per game in total this season, 3.8 per game over their last five match ups total, and 4.0 per game over their last five home outings. The teams had to defend opponent power plays a whopping 14.2 minutes per game over their last five outings.

Tuukka Rask has stopped 24.5 shots per game as the top choice in goal for the Bruins. Rask has eight wins, 11 losses, and two overtime losses and has recorded a .914 save percentage and 2.41 goals against average this season.

The home team offense will be led by David Pastrnak (15 goals, 14 assists).

New York Rangers at Boston Bruins Betting Predictions

Predictions: SU Winner – Rangers, O/U – Under

Betting Trends

Boston is 1-1 in games decided by a shootout this season while New York is 1-2 in shootouts.

The total has gone over in three of Boston’s last five games.

Four of New York’s last ten games have been decided by two goals or more. The team is 3-1 in those games.

The Bruins this season have recorded the fourth-most hits per game (24.5).